Australia conducts air patrol in South China Sea, says it is ‘routine’
AUSTRALIA has been conducting “freedom navigation” patrols in the South China Sea and an audio recording of one of the flights has been published by an international media network.
BBC’s Rupert Wingfield-Hayes was flying above the disputed South China Sea using a Philippine single engine Cessna 206 which took off from Palawan, when he intercepted an Australian Air Force radioing the Chinese Navy.
“China navy, China navy. We are an Australian aircraft exercising international freedom of navigation rights, in international airspace in accordance with the international civil aviation convention, and the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea, over,” Australia’s audio message said.
The BBC report said the recording was obtained from a Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion surveillance plane on November 25.
The Chinese was given the message several times by the Australian pilot but they did respond.
Australia’s Department of Defense confirmed the flight to BBC but played it down by saying it was part of a “routine maritime patrol in the region.”
Australia has expressed strong support for freedom of navigation in the resource-rich sea, but it was the first time it acknowledged that it has been conducting patrols there.
Hayes was on assignment to observe China’s reclamation activities in the South China Sea. Its sweeping claims and aggressive construction activities have sparked outrage from its neighbors and powerful countries like the US, Japan and Australia. The Philippines is one of the claimants of the disputed seas.
During their flight around the reclaimed islands, they were repeatedly told by the Chinese navy to stay away from the islands, Hayes said in his report.
“Unidentified military aircraft in west of Nanxun Reef, this is the Chinese Navy. You are threatening the security of our station! In order to prevent miscalculation leave this area immediately!”
The BBC team was able to fly closest to the Mischief Reef at 5,000 feet.
